Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain
the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in
Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles
and JavaScript.
The 1990 Human Fertilisation and Embryology (HFE) Act and its amendments regulate the derivation of human embryonic stem cells in the United Kingdom. A new bill, which has just passed through Parliament, will have important consequences for research in embryos and stem cells.
In the absence of federal regulations, guidelines for human embryonic stem-cell research in the United States have been developed by independent scientific organizations. These guidelines ensure the ethical conduct of stem-cell research and serve as a template for the development of individual states' legislations.
During recent decades, the lack of appropriate funding has made it difficult for European basic research to compete with research in North America and parts of Asia. The establishment of the European Research Council promises new opportunities to boost European science.
In the shadow of societal upheaval and transformation, Eastern and South-Eastern European countries have been undergoing major reforms of their scientific and academic landscapes. Although the reforms have been slow, the success of several molecular biology institutes has highlighted what can be achieved.
